He had already succeeded his father as second Baronet of Castle Forbes and been created Baron Clanehugh and Viscount Granard in 1675, also in the Peerage of Ireland.

In 1806 he was created Baron Granard, of Castle Donington in the County of Leicester, in the Peerage of the United Kingdom.

Lord Granard held junior office in the Liberal administrations of Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman and H. H. Asquith and was also a member of the Senate of Southern Ireland and of the Senate of the Irish Free State.

[2] As of 2014[update] the titles are held by his grandson, the tenth Earl, who succeeded his uncle in 1992.

[4] The family seat is Castle Forbes, near Newtownforbes, County Longford.